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God’s Eternal Plan III……(Ephesians 2:1-10)  “Quickened”

As we have seen in our previous studies, God chose us before the foundation of the world.  This was before time existed and before any human beings had been created.  St. Paul goes on to tell us here about our condition in real time, or how the “Riches of His Grace” have been working out since God created heaven and earth.

 [1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

 We learn here, that although God had chosen us before the foundation of the world, we were not ready to receive his love and blessings.  We were, the Apostle tells us, “dead in trespasses and sins.”  How we came to be in such a state will be revealed in the first chapters of Genesis, which we will begin studying next.  We are told that we walked according to the world which is under the sway of the devil.  We also see that this spirit of the devil is now active in those who are not Christians, whom Paul calls “the children of disobedience.”

[3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

We too, even though we were chosen by God, were a part of this group by nature.  As we continue to read the Bible we will see a continual identification of those who do not know God as being of this world, naturally living by the desires of their bodies and mind and motivated entirely by this world.  This group, “the children of wrath,” is juxtaposed with those who have been “born again” and who live spiritually, whose bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost and whose minds are renewed and attuned to the eternal goodness of God.

  [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

 The remarkable evidence of God’s goodness and love to us is that He loved us even while we were “dead in sins.”  His love flows out of His goodness, not ours, and we need to always remember that had it not been for God’s great mercy and love, we would still be among the “children of wrath, even as others.”   Out of God’s goodness flows life, the “quickening” referenced by the Apostle.  We experience a spiritual awakening, gain spiritual awareness and vision and are raised up to sit with Jesus in heavenly places even as our mortal bodies still walk here on Earth.  But this is only a part of the blessing.  The best is yet to come!

[7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 We have an eternal heritage, and endless future in heaven.  And this is a gift.  It would be redundant to say “a free gift” or “an unearned gift” for the essence of the word “gift” is that it is freely bestowed on its recipient.  It is given by God through Jesus to demonstrate to us “the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us,” and all we need just receive the salvation and kindness through faith, that is in believing Him Who hath promised.

 “Why me?” We may ask.  We are His creation, and He has a purpose for us:

[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

  We are not saved by good works but for good works.  Once we have accepted this great salvation, so rich and free, the Holy Ghost begins sanctifying us (making us holy, set apart for God) so that we can live for and like Jesus!  Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

 Certainly one of those good works is studying the Holy Bible.  Our studies will now move on to follow the time sequence on the Bible and to present the Scriptures in a linear sequence from creation to the end of the world.  Along the way, we will flesh out the narrative with the presentation of contemporaneous law, poetry, prophecy and teaching so that the entire substance of the Word of God is covered, not only for our knowledge and edification, but for our transformation.

 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. Psalm 103:13-18

 Above all, let’s study the Bible to do it.

He Lifted Me

In loving kindness Jesus came,
My soul in mercy to reclaim,
And from the depths of sin and shame
Thro' grace He lifted me.

 Refrain
From sinking sand, He lifted me,
With tender hand, He lifted me,
From shades of night to planes of light,
O praise His name, He lifted me!

He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred,
But when I took Him at His Word,
Forgiv'n He lifted me.

Refrain
From sinking sand, He lifted me,
With tender hand, He lifted me,
From shades of night to planes of light,
O praise His name, He lifted me!

His brow was pierced with many a thorn,
His hands by cruel nails were torn,
When from my guilt and grief forlorn,
In love He lifted me.

Refrain
From sinking sand, He lifted me,
With tender hand, He lifted me,
From shades of night to planes of light,
O praise His name, He lifted me!

Words and Music by Charles H. Gabriel

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful,and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of  the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:3-5

 Study by Kenneth J. Kalis, February 26, 2010     kkalis@aol.com